FOX Announces Launch of FOX Sports 2 By Accident

Two of the worst-kept secrets in the US sports media this year are, one, that FOX will be launching FOX Sports 2 this summer, and two, that FOX Soccer is going to be shut down in early September, to be replaced by FXX, a sister channel to FX. Despite plenty of press speculation, FOX Sports has tiptoed around both topics and has never publicly confirmed either of the two stories. Until now.

In a post on FOXSoccer.com entitled All about FOX Soccer, FOX Sports 1, you would expect that FOX Sports would finally come out and definitively answer the question regarding the future of FOX Soccer. But incredibly, despite a Q&A featuring 11 questions, the article neither asks or answers the question about FOX Soccer’s future, even though everyone knows the truth.

But what the article does let slip is the first formal acknowledgement that FOX Sports 2 will be launching in the near future. Here’s what FOX said about FOX Sports 2:

“FOX Sports 2 is an extension of FOX Sports 1 that features live coverage of sporting events and connects with fans through entertaining studio shows and original programming.”

While it isn’t revealing, at least FOX Sports is finally publicly announcing that FOX Sports 2 is a reality. No date was mentioned. However, we do know that SPEED will become FOX Sports 1 on August 17. FOX Soccer will become FXX in early September, and Fuel TV is reported to become FOX Sports 2 on August 17.

Other than accidentally leaking that FOX Sports 2 is coming soon, the only other newsworthy item in the article is confirmation that FOX Sports 2 will show UEFA Champions League matches (in addition to those matches being spread across FOX Sports 1, FOXSoccer2Go and FOX Soccer Plus).

About Christopher Harris

Founder and publisher of World Soccer Talk, Christopher Harris is the managing editor of the site. He has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Guardian and several other publications. Plus he has made appearances on NPR, BBC World, CBC, BBC Five Live, talkSPORT and beIN SPORT.
Harris, who has lived in Florida since 1984, has supported Swansea City since 1979. He's also an expert on soccer in South Florida, and got engaged during half-time of a MLS game.
Harris launched EPL Talk in 2005, which was rebranded as World Soccer Talk in 2013.
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So I am lost about the future foxsports 1 and 2 app that will have live streaming. How is that working with foxsoccer2go? Gaffer, any news about that or new tv rights for fox otherwise the price is steep for no real soccer and poor rugby selection. Fox does not even have the rights of the French top 14 whereas two of their teams were in the final of the h cup last year. Thanks for any news…

FOX Soccer2Go remains the home of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, England’s FA Cup, and the Scottish Premier League, plus CONCACAF Champions League and CONCACAF Gold Cup. FOX Soccer2Go will continue to deliver rugby from the Heineken Cup, Aviva Premiership, RaboDirect Pro 12, Australian Football League and National Rugby League, among other competitions.

I am confused. You state ucl and Europa league for both foxdports2go and foxsoccer. Also news if comcast, directv are picking that app up?? We are still editing on bein being available to Comcast or directv. Any news on that front? Like also bein in HD ?